AN: Sorry I haven't been updating lately. I'm giving up on my other story, but I reread it and decided my writing style was crap. I will either continue it, or rewrite it. I am much more satisfied with this chapter than with the FMA story. I already have ideas for this story too. It is easier to write about Kakashi because his child-hood personality is not described very thoroughly, leaving room for improvisation. I also don't feel as bad tearing him out of character. :P. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. There will not be much stuff about Naruto the series in here too, so you don't need to be into it to read. In fact, it might be better if you don't

The Guard, the Guarded and the Guardian

Chapter I

Not a Happy Boy

A young boy stumbled through the dark forest. The rain from the previous day's shower dripped off the leaves of the tree as he made is way through scratching bramble and dead branches. The salt from the rain stung in the cuts covering his body. The fight had been difficult, given the dangerous nature of the forest. He'd been sleeping against a tree when the 3 men had attacked him. They didn't see him as a boy, merely a tool for war—which he was—that should be destroyed. He hadn't been sent there to continue the war, merely to be a diplomat for the decisions made for the truce the two hidden villages had been planning to make, apparently the hidden village of fire did not want to go through with the truce.

Stupid, Stupid! I should've known better than to let down my guard.

And worse even, during the fight, as he knocked out a second man, the third had grabbed a…. man? out of the forest. Its face certainly had looked like a man's and that was what drove the young shinobi to save it. It wasn't a man, or if it was, the boy would like to know what type of jutsu he used to make his bottom half turn into that of a horse. He frozen, letting the second man drop to the ground, and, as the third brought his kunai closer to the horse-man's neck, used the last of his chakra to chidori the man to hell. The second man had attacked him behing at the same time the man he was running to lashed out wildly to try to protect himself from the killing blow. The result had been one dead man, 2 uncoincess, and a number of deep gashes on his back, arms and chest. Now he was even weaker than before. This forest seemed to be draining him of chakra, and the horse-man had fled before he could ask him about his jutsu.

He just needed to make it to someplace with water, and he could rest. Bleeding, and slowly tiring, he made his way to what he hoped was the edge of the forest, praying that he would not be attacked again. Now he could swear he heard voices coming through the trees. He slowed and listened.

"Albus, I beg of you to put a ward on the forest! Sirius Black is on the loose! And with Harry Potter here, he could easily see fit to use the forest to get in!"

"Without a wand? How could he possibly make it through?"

"I—As Minister of magic I must insist that—"

"No, Minister, if I put a ward on the forest many of its inhabitants will die, and will not have their deaths on my hands, or that of our good school."

Magic? Wands? What the hell are they talking about? Is it some sort of code?I've never heard of a school around here too. If there was it would probably have been destroyed, this is right between the territory boundaries.

"I—Alright, I will not further pester you on this for the moment, but if Black uses the forest, I will have to insist."

"Thank you for your… Generosity, Minister."

There was the sound of feet on grass moving away from where he estimated the two men to be.

"Now, if I may deal with my second guest this evening…"

The boy felt his feet yanked up from under him and was pulled out, hanging upside down by nothing, into the open air. An old man smiled, twinkling up at him.

As the man opened his eyes to gaze upon the boy he looked truly surprised at his state, and lowered him to the ground. The young shinobi pulled himself up into a one-kneed kneel, one elbow resting on each knee.

"Why were you in the forbidden forest? And how did you make it through?"
The boy hesitated, not knowing if he should tell the truth.

"I was sent by Sarutobi Sandaime Hokage- samma."

"Yes, I know of him."

The boy looked up, surprised. The man was smiling at his.

"Any friend of the Hokage is a friend of mine, however, I would be pleased to know your name."

"…I cannot tell you until I confirm your friend ship with Hokage-samma."

"I understand. I am Professor Dumbledore." The old man stated as he brought out a gold coin. It began to glow.

"HmM?" sounded the rough voice of the third.

"Ah, Sarutobi-san, I have one of your fine men here."
"Dumbledore! It's been a while! How are you, and how is your school?"

"Less that well actually, a convict—Sirius Black—is on the loose and after one of my students! As of right now, however, that student has not arrived. The thing which I have called upon you for is the fact that a young boy sits here, in front of me, claiming to be sent by you, my friend."

"Kakashi?"

The boy was even more surprised. What was this method the man was using to talk to the Hokage?

"Sir." Kakashi confirmed.

"I am deeply sorry, Dumbledore, I fear the truce between our land and the land of fire was ended abruptly, and left Kakashi-kun to wander through the forest."

"It is quite alright on my end, Sarutobi, but young—Kakashi was it—seems to be injured."

There was a brief pause on the Hokage's end.

"I must, then, ask a favor of you Dumbledore. Would it be possible for you to help the boy for now? He will the return to the forest and eventually return when there is a team spare to get him safely back."

"It is of no weight to me, my friend, I would be happy to Help this boy, and I would, In fact, like to take him into my school to teach him, as he seems to have some power about him. I would therefore like to propose a deal"

"…Yes?"

"I will teach him magic if you will have him guard this student in danger—Harry Potter. I will understand if you refuse. You must know of how dangerous Sirius Black can be."

"I do, yes. However, I will accept this deal. Hatake Kakashi, your mission is hereby changed to the protection of Harry Potter, and the research of magic for our Village, Mission Rank A."

The loss of blood was making him light-headed, and a little annoyed with the whole situation. He had been told not to wear the over mask for this mission, and now he regretted leaving it as he was forced to begin a new mission. Worst of all he would not be able to help in the war. He had felt guilty enough for not being there in time to save Rin. Now he would sit on his but in a castle and each day receive news of comrades now dead that he could have been there to save. Instead He was on babysitting duty. Kakashi frowned beneath the cloth mask. This did not seem like a Rank A mission, but it must be if the Hokage had assigned to an ANBU operative. He could see the giant castle that served as a school loom over him and this man—Dumbledore.

"I will do my best, Hokage-Samma."

"I know you will, Kakashi." There was a crackling sound and the glow disappeared.

"Well then, Mr. Hatake, Shall we get you back to the Castle?"

Kakashi stood up. The world seemed to spin around him, and he felt the ground hit his knees.

Or is it the other way around?

And darkness closed in.